By Edgar Allen Beem The Forecaster column Just in time for the centennial of the National Park Service and the final year of the Obama administration, philanthropist Roxanne Quimby and her family are seeking national monument status for the land east of Baxter State park they have been assembling in hopes of it becoming a Read More
Maine Environmental News
Maine environmental news often comes quickly and with little warning. Stay up to date on Maine environment news.
From issues such as climate change, healthy waters, Maine forests and wildlife, and sustainability—and environmental policy that could impact them—you’ll find NRCM’s up-to-the-minute news releases to see our perspective on the most pressing issues facing Maine’s land, air, waters, and wildlife. This includes findings relating to our role as Maine’s watchdog of activities of state environmental agencies—we stand ready to blow the whistle when regulations are not enforced.
You can also find our news “round up,” News & Noteworthy, which puts the spotlight on media stories that do a particularly good job capturing current news about Maine's environment. We hope you find this part of our website helpful and informative!
How One Man Helped Maine Win Back Public Land from Private Companies
By Stephanie Bouchard, Island Institute Bangor Daily News news story Editor’s note: This story first appeared in The Working Waterfront, published by the Island Institute, and appears here with permission. The story that would become reporter Bob Cummings’ legacy didn’t set his world on fire when White Nichols walked into the Bath Times office in Read More
Poliquin Bill Would Give Veto Power to Park Opponents
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial In late November, three members of Maine’s congressional delegation — Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin — sent a letter to the president laying out reasonable conditions for him to consider if he is to declare land in Maine a national monument. Read More
Task Force Balks at LePage Plan to Divert State Timber Revenues for Home Heating
Citing constitutional restrictions, the commission spurns the governor’s idea to fund the home heating program with income from expanded logging on public lands. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A task force has recommended against using revenues from logging on state-owned lands to help low-income Mainers heat their homes, Read More
We Have a Path Forward for a New National Park, Recreation Area
By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Over the last four years, support has been growing in the Katahdin region, around Maine and across the country for a new national park and national recreation area on up to 150,000 acres east of Baxter State Park. The proposal has been fine tuned Read More
Madison Electric Seeking Bids on Solar Project
Madison Electric says it hopes to eventually buy a solar facility planned for the Madison Business Park. By Rachel Ohm, Morning Sentinel Morning Sentinel news story MADISON — Madison Electric Works is the latest utility company to propose what would be the largest solar panel project in the state if it is built. The publicly owned Read More
A National Park or a National Monument? North Woods Groups Shift Focus
Unable to convince members of Maine’s congressional delegation to introduce legislation for a North Woods national park, supporters are now hoping President Obama will use his authority to designate a national monument as a step toward eventual park status. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story In June 1916, President Woodrow Wilson Read More
An Endangered Species of Sturgeon May Be Making a Comeback
By Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press Washington Post news story An endangered species of sturgeon has rediscovered habitat that could be a key to improving the fish’s reproduction, University of Maine scientists say. The shortnose sturgeon, listed as endangered for nearly 50 years, has returned to the portion of the Penobscot River that is beyond Read More
Collins, King, Poliquin Offer Way Forward on National Park Issue
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Members of Maine’s congressional delegation deserve praise for seeking a sensible way forward on the contentious issue of a establishing a national park in northern Maine. In a letter to President Barack Obama dated Friday, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin outlined Read More